CVE-2020-6388 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Out of bounds access in WebAudio in Google Chrome prior to 80.0.3987.87 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-6388 represents a critical out-of-bounds memory access flaw within the WebAudio component of Google Chrome browser versions prior to 80.0.3987.87. This issue falls under the broader category of memory corruption vulnerabilities that can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution. The flaw exists in how Chrome handles audio processing operations within the WebAudio API, which is a powerful JavaScript API that enables web applications to process and synthesize audio in real-time. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the browser encounters crafted HTML pages that manipulate audio data structures in ways that exceed allocated memory boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper bounds checking within the WebAudio processing pipeline where audio buffers are manipulated and processed. When a malicious webpage loads with specially crafted audio data, the browser's audio engine fails to validate the size and boundaries of audio buffer operations, allowing an attacker to write data beyond the allocated memory regions. This heap corruption occurs during the processing of audio samples and can be triggered through JavaScript code that utilizes the WebAudio API with malformed parameters. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the browser level and can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant threat vector for remote attackers who can leverage it to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The heap corruption can be exploited to gain control over the browser process, potentially leading to complete system compromise depending on the execution environment. The attack surface is extensive since WebAudio is widely used in modern web applications, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous. Security researchers have noted that the exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it requires minimal user interaction, as simply visiting a malicious webpage can trigger the exploit. The vulnerability also aligns with attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can use compromised browsers to execute malicious code.
The root cause of this vulnerability can be traced to inadequate input validation and memory management within the WebAudio implementation. This flaw represents a classic example of a buffer overflow condition that violates the principles of secure coding practices. The Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) classification for this vulnerability would be CWE-125, which describes an out-of-bounds read condition. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in complex software systems and highlights the risks associated with audio processing libraries that handle large amounts of data. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations by updating to Chrome version 80.0.3987.87 or later, which includes patches that address the bounds checking issues in the WebAudio component. Additionally, browser hardening measures such as enabling sandboxing, using content security policies, and implementing strict origin controls can help reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity of regular security updates and the importance of maintaining current software versions to protect against known vulnerabilities in widely used components like browser engines.